Manipur mulls pre-paid power supply

Manipur is set to introduce ‘pre-paid’ power supply mechanism to control power theft in the state. Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh indicated the new measure to check power theft to group of press persons on Monday, reports Sobhapati Samom.

Manipur is set to introduce ‘pre-paid’ power supply mechanism to control power theft in the state.

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh indicated the new measure to check power theft to group of press persons after inspecting Thoubal Multi-purpose project at the adjoining areas of Ukhrul, Senapati and Imphal east districts,45 km north-east of state capital on Monday.

“We’re planning to introduce pre-paid power supply system and discussions are on in this regard,” Ibobi said .”Laying of underground cable is also in full swing”.

Checking theft of power becomes all the more imperative as the state has a shortfall of 35 MW to 40 MW in its peak hour requirement. The state hopes that once the three projects -- 2000MW Lower Subansiri (Arunachal Pradesh),750MW Bongaigaon (Assam) and Palatana (Tripura) -- are commissioned in March 2011, its power woes would be minimised.

Preparing ahead, Manipur has also initiated upgrading the exisiting 132 KV Yurembam power supply transmission station near Imphal. But the project is facing opposition from locals, who do not want to part with their agricultural land for the project.

"We'r not opposing expansion of the sub-station, but we don't want to sacrifice our paddy fields", Kh Somorendro,a resident of Yurembam village said. "Construction activities on agricultural lands would affect food security when we are speaking of things such as Right to Food.”